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Legends of Lightning #1
Hidden Realm
“The next Realm Walker will bring with them a storm. Lightning must fight the Crimson Shadow, or the lands will be cast into eternal darkness.”
When she was a child, Esther was plagued with vivid nightmares. Now they have returned to haunt her. Bloodthirsty monsters chase her through a forest of dead trees while a mysterious hooded figure stalks her. After waking with fresh wounds from her dreams, Esther searches for the truth about who she is and the Hidden Realm she is destined to save.
Join Esther on her journey of self-discovery as she travels into a world long forgotten. Unsure if she can trust her hooded guide, she is hunted by unknown enemies and smothered by expectations of grandeur. Deciphering friend from foe she travels the lands, trying to unite kingdoms torn by pride.
When she was a child, Esther was plagued with vivid nightmares. Now they have returned to haunt her. Bloodthirsty monsters chase her through a forest of dead trees while a mysterious hooded figure stalks her. After waking with fresh wounds from her dreams, Esther searches for the truth about who she is and the Hidden Realm she is destined to save.
Join Esther on her journey of self-discovery as she travels into a world long forgotten. Unsure if she can trust her hooded guide, she is hunted by unknown enemies and smothered by expectations of grandeur. Deciphering friend from foe she travels the lands, trying to unite kingdoms torn by pride.
267 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 6, 2020
20 people are currently reading
206 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
August 10, 2020
Book Reviewed on www.whisperingstories.com
Hidden Realm (Book 1 of the Legends of Lightning series) is an ambitious dark fantasy. The story begins with Esther, a librarian in our world, who has been recently plagued with nightmares where she is chased through the woods by wolves. As wounds begin to appear on her body after these nightmares, she searches for a way to discover what is going on and how to stop it.
Most of the novel takes place in this other realm, where Esther must journey in order to save it from evil forces. As to why Esther is the one to do so was not explained entirely to my liking, though a premise is given.
The novel’s strengths are its dark, gritty, and unapologetically sordid and evocative imagery. It moves at a quick pace with interesting side characters and a villain with a tragic backstory, though she remains on the periphery for most of the story.
As the novel progresses, it’s revealed to be a fairy-tale adaptation. The take on the Brothers Grimm stories (and Beauty and the Beast) were quite interesting and rather innovative (especially given the deluge of fairy-tale reimaginings at present). In retrospect, the warriors being called The Huntsmen should have tipped me off earlier that this was a case, but it isn’t until halfway through the novel that the world expands to include adaptations of these classic tales. This did allow for the novel to develop its own story before being tied into the existing mythos, which was well-crafted.
Unfortunately, while the novel is quite enthralling, there are some issues that took away from the story. There is a decent attempt to give the characters depth, but Esther fell very flat to me. I loved that she wasn’t a stereotype or a trope, but we aren’t given insight into her deepest thoughts. She doesn’t ruminate on her past life in the slightest once in the new realm, which I found rather unrealistic, and while she is brave and rather stubborn, there is nothing much else to say about her. I cared more about a few characters than I did Esther. This could be because the novel commits the common “show don’t tell” narrative issue quite often, as well as drifting into a passive voice. Oisin, the other main character, was intriguing, but I’m still unsure why he kept Esther in the dark so often. It seemed like a way to keep the reader surprised rather than a personality flaw.
There are also quite a few minor questions/inconsistencies that are not resolved (but perhaps they will be in later novels).
Overall, this is an interesting read that will please those who enjoy a dark and “adult” re-telling of classic tales and those who enjoy fantasy with heavy themes.
Hidden Realm (Book 1 of the Legends of Lightning series) is an ambitious dark fantasy. The story begins with Esther, a librarian in our world, who has been recently plagued with nightmares where she is chased through the woods by wolves. As wounds begin to appear on her body after these nightmares, she searches for a way to discover what is going on and how to stop it.
Most of the novel takes place in this other realm, where Esther must journey in order to save it from evil forces. As to why Esther is the one to do so was not explained entirely to my liking, though a premise is given.
The novel’s strengths are its dark, gritty, and unapologetically sordid and evocative imagery. It moves at a quick pace with interesting side characters and a villain with a tragic backstory, though she remains on the periphery for most of the story.
As the novel progresses, it’s revealed to be a fairy-tale adaptation. The take on the Brothers Grimm stories (and Beauty and the Beast) were quite interesting and rather innovative (especially given the deluge of fairy-tale reimaginings at present). In retrospect, the warriors being called The Huntsmen should have tipped me off earlier that this was a case, but it isn’t until halfway through the novel that the world expands to include adaptations of these classic tales. This did allow for the novel to develop its own story before being tied into the existing mythos, which was well-crafted.
Unfortunately, while the novel is quite enthralling, there are some issues that took away from the story. There is a decent attempt to give the characters depth, but Esther fell very flat to me. I loved that she wasn’t a stereotype or a trope, but we aren’t given insight into her deepest thoughts. She doesn’t ruminate on her past life in the slightest once in the new realm, which I found rather unrealistic, and while she is brave and rather stubborn, there is nothing much else to say about her. I cared more about a few characters than I did Esther. This could be because the novel commits the common “show don’t tell” narrative issue quite often, as well as drifting into a passive voice. Oisin, the other main character, was intriguing, but I’m still unsure why he kept Esther in the dark so often. It seemed like a way to keep the reader surprised rather than a personality flaw.
There are also quite a few minor questions/inconsistencies that are not resolved (but perhaps they will be in later novels).
Overall, this is an interesting read that will please those who enjoy a dark and “adult” re-telling of classic tales and those who enjoy fantasy with heavy themes.
December 31, 2020
I read this back in September, but I didn't have time to add it to my Goodreads shelf. I personally found the pervasive violence, particularly sexual violence, harm to children, and cruelty in this novel very off-putting. The story is pretty strong and interesting. I just didn't care for the execution. It's sad, because I want to see what happens to Esther and Oisin, but with all the horror of 2020, this book is way too triggering for me.
Overall rating: 2.5/5.0 stars.
Affaire de Coeur. http://affairedecoeur.com
Overall rating: 2.5/5.0 stars.
Affaire de Coeur. http://affairedecoeur.com
June 29, 2022
"Don't you have cross animal talkers in your Realm?"
"Humans can only talk to humans."
"So then, what, you just go about never know' what the others are thinkin' of doing?"
Summary
Esther, a 29-year-old librarian, is going about her daily tasks and leading a routine life. Her childhood dreams, which have resurfaced with a vengeance, are the only anomalies in her life. Not only that, but she has noticed a consistency in her dreams. They are being pursued by a man as they rush through the jungle when some strange animals attack them. She embarks on a quest to learn the truth about herself and her reoccurring dreams after discovering that she has real-life wounds that shouldn't have been there.
Thoughts: I enjoyed this book very much. Although the plot was intriguing, it took me a few chapters before I became truly engrossed.
The world that we are introduced to is very interesting. I loved the Grimm's fairy tale aspect of it. The author did a fantastic job using these tales to construct a mysterious, mystical world. Also, the quirkiness introduced in this world is quite enjoyable.
It has to be said that, since this is a debut, the writing is quite rough and does not flow nicely throughout. Also, it could have been a bit better structured and paced.
For me, Esther was written a bit younger than she is supposed to be. My personal favorites were Devon and Windsor. I am excited to see what comes next in Book 2.
Thanks for the free e-book for an honest review.
"Humans can only talk to humans."
"So then, what, you just go about never know' what the others are thinkin' of doing?"
Summary
Esther, a 29-year-old librarian, is going about her daily tasks and leading a routine life. Her childhood dreams, which have resurfaced with a vengeance, are the only anomalies in her life. Not only that, but she has noticed a consistency in her dreams. They are being pursued by a man as they rush through the jungle when some strange animals attack them. She embarks on a quest to learn the truth about herself and her reoccurring dreams after discovering that she has real-life wounds that shouldn't have been there.
Thoughts: I enjoyed this book very much. Although the plot was intriguing, it took me a few chapters before I became truly engrossed.
The world that we are introduced to is very interesting. I loved the Grimm's fairy tale aspect of it. The author did a fantastic job using these tales to construct a mysterious, mystical world. Also, the quirkiness introduced in this world is quite enjoyable.
It has to be said that, since this is a debut, the writing is quite rough and does not flow nicely throughout. Also, it could have been a bit better structured and paced.
For me, Esther was written a bit younger than she is supposed to be. My personal favorites were Devon and Windsor. I am excited to see what comes next in Book 2.
Thanks for the free e-book for an honest review.
May 9, 2023
I cannot tell you how many times as a child/teenager/young adult that I wished I could leave this world and enter another world, one that held magic and noble quests and where I was the Chosen One, of course. T.R. Slauf did that with Esther, a librarian who was actually a Realm Walker, someone who could bodily move between realms. This premise was like my own personal fairy tale come true...except much, much darker.
If you are sensitive to topics such as rape, parental loss, violence against children, and/or torture, then this might not be one you would want to pick up.
Plot: 8
Characters: 6
Atmosphere: 4
Logic: 6
Intrigue: 6
Writing: 4
Enjoyment: 6
Plot
I loved how Slauf wove his own unique story in with well known fairy tale characters that we've all grown up on. Only difference is - these were not the idyllic characters we knew - these were scarred, bitter nobles of war-torn kingdoms. They were vile, twisted people who were the thing of nightmares. This realm was the origin world of the Brothers Grimm, the first Realm Walkers.
Esther is our main character, a librarian who lives in near solitude. She begins having nightmares - violent terrors that resulted in actual physical injury that remained even when returning to the waking world. She begins to search for answers and finds herself in another realm with a complete stranger as a guide and told she is the one prophesied to save them all.
Characters
Funnily enough, the characters I liked most were secondary and tertiary characters. Windsor, the Huntsman who is best friends with Esther's guide Oisin, Davon, another new recruit who trains with Esther (and can talk to animals!) and Adrik the cat. Every time that cat got mad at Esther, he'd bite her hand and I would crack up. Sadly I didn't really connect with our main characters Esther and Oisin. I did enjoy their relationship to one another, but that was about the extent of it.
Atmosphere
I loved the aspect of moving between realms. The sense of danger and urgency was clear and resonated off the pages.
Logic
There were a few areas where we sort of skipped through some events that left a few holes for me. It may also have been the layout - characters would be real time experiencing something in the present, then it would in the same paragraph skip ahead to after the fact. Maybe if there had been a paragraph break or a little page break signifying time had passed, it would have flowed a touch better instead of causing a bit of a disconnect.
Intrigue
There were quite a few surprises in this one and those were largely due to how twisted the origin stories of the characters were. I love how dark and twisted they were!! The shock value was everything - I found myself looking forward to meeting others in the story (or hoping I would) to see how the author would weave their tale.
Writing
I had to do a fair bit of rereading to make sure I was understanding properly. There were some rough spots that caused me to disconnect that could do with a bit of polishing. The potential is there, though. It's more of the layout I think, than the writing style. I do wish there had been a bit more descriptions of surroundings and a bit more depth added to Esther. I just couldn't get behind her as the Chosen One for this story.
Enjoyment
I did enjoy this one and I am very much looking forward to continuing with the next book in the series to see what is going to happen next. Slauf left readers with a solid cliffhanger and I need to see how this is going to shake out! I also have to know if Esther will be successful. With the dark turn of this one, I wouldn't be surprised if the bad guys beat the good guys...I kind of wouldn't mind either.
I did accept this book from the author for review consideration.
If you are sensitive to topics such as rape, parental loss, violence against children, and/or torture, then this might not be one you would want to pick up.
Plot: 8
Characters: 6
Atmosphere: 4
Logic: 6
Intrigue: 6
Writing: 4
Enjoyment: 6
Plot
I loved how Slauf wove his own unique story in with well known fairy tale characters that we've all grown up on. Only difference is - these were not the idyllic characters we knew - these were scarred, bitter nobles of war-torn kingdoms. They were vile, twisted people who were the thing of nightmares. This realm was the origin world of the Brothers Grimm, the first Realm Walkers.
Esther is our main character, a librarian who lives in near solitude. She begins having nightmares - violent terrors that resulted in actual physical injury that remained even when returning to the waking world. She begins to search for answers and finds herself in another realm with a complete stranger as a guide and told she is the one prophesied to save them all.
Characters
Funnily enough, the characters I liked most were secondary and tertiary characters. Windsor, the Huntsman who is best friends with Esther's guide Oisin, Davon, another new recruit who trains with Esther (and can talk to animals!) and Adrik the cat. Every time that cat got mad at Esther, he'd bite her hand and I would crack up. Sadly I didn't really connect with our main characters Esther and Oisin. I did enjoy their relationship to one another, but that was about the extent of it.
Atmosphere
I loved the aspect of moving between realms. The sense of danger and urgency was clear and resonated off the pages.
Logic
There were a few areas where we sort of skipped through some events that left a few holes for me. It may also have been the layout - characters would be real time experiencing something in the present, then it would in the same paragraph skip ahead to after the fact. Maybe if there had been a paragraph break or a little page break signifying time had passed, it would have flowed a touch better instead of causing a bit of a disconnect.
Intrigue
There were quite a few surprises in this one and those were largely due to how twisted the origin stories of the characters were. I love how dark and twisted they were!! The shock value was everything - I found myself looking forward to meeting others in the story (or hoping I would) to see how the author would weave their tale.
Writing
I had to do a fair bit of rereading to make sure I was understanding properly. There were some rough spots that caused me to disconnect that could do with a bit of polishing. The potential is there, though. It's more of the layout I think, than the writing style. I do wish there had been a bit more descriptions of surroundings and a bit more depth added to Esther. I just couldn't get behind her as the Chosen One for this story.
Enjoyment
I did enjoy this one and I am very much looking forward to continuing with the next book in the series to see what is going to happen next. Slauf left readers with a solid cliffhanger and I need to see how this is going to shake out! I also have to know if Esther will be successful. With the dark turn of this one, I wouldn't be surprised if the bad guys beat the good guys...I kind of wouldn't mind either.
I did accept this book from the author for review consideration.
July 10, 2022
I'm going to be honest with my review, as I always am, I did struggle with this book and specially in the beginning.
The idea seemed very enticing and it immediately appealed to me. Reading the first chapters though I found myself wondering if I should let it go. Im glad I didnt because the story gets more interesting and with more details.
Im glad I didn't DNF but also I know this is a book I wouldn't easily recommend.
An issue that really got me was the constant repeat of the names. There were times that I would see Esthers name 3 times in one paragraph or even more than 10 times in one page. I noticed a couple typos like the chapter called Prophacy when it's Prophecy.
Also I'm still confused about how much time has passed since she decided to leave everything behind and bravely take over a role to save others.
Im glad I saw signs of the original tales and their darkness and maybe sometimes it was pushed a bit too far but it wasn't a deal breaker.
Overall, I am curious to see what happens next and since these seems to be one of the first books of the writer sure it has it's issues but Im sure better things will come.
The idea seemed very enticing and it immediately appealed to me. Reading the first chapters though I found myself wondering if I should let it go. Im glad I didnt because the story gets more interesting and with more details.
Im glad I didn't DNF but also I know this is a book I wouldn't easily recommend.
An issue that really got me was the constant repeat of the names. There were times that I would see Esthers name 3 times in one paragraph or even more than 10 times in one page. I noticed a couple typos like the chapter called Prophacy when it's Prophecy.
Also I'm still confused about how much time has passed since she decided to leave everything behind and bravely take over a role to save others.
Im glad I saw signs of the original tales and their darkness and maybe sometimes it was pushed a bit too far but it wasn't a deal breaker.
Overall, I am curious to see what happens next and since these seems to be one of the first books of the writer sure it has it's issues but Im sure better things will come.
May 4, 2022
Twisted fairytale elements for Adults >>>
Hidden Realm is the first book in the 'Legends of Lightning' series. The author did a great job of taking the elements of the original fairytales and weaving them into this new tale in often surprising way!
The story takes place in today's world as we follow Esther, a human Librarian girl who frequently has weird dreams. But there's something strange about her dreams because they seem too real and palpable. When she falls asleep, her body gets transported into a world parallel to ours. With each dream, Esther finds herself standing lonely in a murky forest that starts discharging some gruesome beasts at her one after another causing her to wake up frightened and gasping for air. Until one dream, she met a charming hunter who saved her life but also turned it upside down. It turns out that her dreams are the entrance to another realm and this hunter was assigned to protect her at all costs because she's the last hope his world has.
As she starts to uncover the hidden truths about her identity, and with Oisin, the loyal hunter trailing her every step, Esther finds herself running out of time to save the worlds especially when there's an an evil queen who's hell-bent on slaughtering everything in her path to get her hands on the last standing Realm Walker.
The author has a vivid and a descriptive writing style that made the story flow smoothly. I was constantly wondering what will happen to Esther & Oisin and who will be helping them from our favorite princesses.
In a nutshell, Hidden Realm will send you back to your childhood fairytale stories but with a dark characters and plenty of surprises along the way. Highly recommended to fans of Magic portals, goblins, realm walkers, dark disney princesses, and a malicious evil queen!
Huge Thanks to the author for sending me a copy to review. What a delightful ride! I can't wait to pick up the next installment!
Hidden Realm is the first book in the 'Legends of Lightning' series. The author did a great job of taking the elements of the original fairytales and weaving them into this new tale in often surprising way!
The story takes place in today's world as we follow Esther, a human Librarian girl who frequently has weird dreams. But there's something strange about her dreams because they seem too real and palpable. When she falls asleep, her body gets transported into a world parallel to ours. With each dream, Esther finds herself standing lonely in a murky forest that starts discharging some gruesome beasts at her one after another causing her to wake up frightened and gasping for air. Until one dream, she met a charming hunter who saved her life but also turned it upside down. It turns out that her dreams are the entrance to another realm and this hunter was assigned to protect her at all costs because she's the last hope his world has.
As she starts to uncover the hidden truths about her identity, and with Oisin, the loyal hunter trailing her every step, Esther finds herself running out of time to save the worlds especially when there's an an evil queen who's hell-bent on slaughtering everything in her path to get her hands on the last standing Realm Walker.
The author has a vivid and a descriptive writing style that made the story flow smoothly. I was constantly wondering what will happen to Esther & Oisin and who will be helping them from our favorite princesses.
In a nutshell, Hidden Realm will send you back to your childhood fairytale stories but with a dark characters and plenty of surprises along the way. Highly recommended to fans of Magic portals, goblins, realm walkers, dark disney princesses, and a malicious evil queen!
Huge Thanks to the author for sending me a copy to review. What a delightful ride! I can't wait to pick up the next installment!
October 9, 2020
I received a complimentary copy. I voluntarily reviewed this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Hidden Realm
Legends of Lightning
By: T.R. Slauf
REVIEW ☆☆☆☆
First, I have to mention the creepy, freak-me -out cover. Yikes! Isn't it perfect for Halloween and all things spooky?
Hidden Realm is a unique story. T. R. Slauf incorporates the original Brothers Grimm fairy tales as a sort of foundation to build the story on. These are dark fairy tales, and I don't recommend reading them to children. But, for an adult fantasy horror concept, the fairy tales work fairly well.
I have no serious issues with the plot, rather, the heroine, Esther, is lacking depth and authenticity. A well developed inner dialogue would be a good place to start because readers want to know the why, how, when, whatever the characters are thinking. Their motives, idiosyncrasies and personality traits come through this way, too. Who is Esther beyond her visible situation? In addition, I think her emotional responses were weak. To be authentic and relatable, Esther needs to really react to all this craziness happening to her.
My overall impression is favorable, and I think readers of this genre will be mostly satisfied with the story. The premise is different with tons of potential and more adventures in store.
Hidden Realm
Legends of Lightning
By: T.R. Slauf
REVIEW ☆☆☆☆
First, I have to mention the creepy, freak-me -out cover. Yikes! Isn't it perfect for Halloween and all things spooky?
Hidden Realm is a unique story. T. R. Slauf incorporates the original Brothers Grimm fairy tales as a sort of foundation to build the story on. These are dark fairy tales, and I don't recommend reading them to children. But, for an adult fantasy horror concept, the fairy tales work fairly well.
I have no serious issues with the plot, rather, the heroine, Esther, is lacking depth and authenticity. A well developed inner dialogue would be a good place to start because readers want to know the why, how, when, whatever the characters are thinking. Their motives, idiosyncrasies and personality traits come through this way, too. Who is Esther beyond her visible situation? In addition, I think her emotional responses were weak. To be authentic and relatable, Esther needs to really react to all this craziness happening to her.
My overall impression is favorable, and I think readers of this genre will be mostly satisfied with the story. The premise is different with tons of potential and more adventures in store.
October 6, 2020
Thank you to the author for sending me an ARC of this one!
⚡️ 𝘈 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘴, 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘭, 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘴, 𝘓𝘦𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘓𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘣𝘺 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳 𝘛.𝘙. 𝘚𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘧.
This prologue is one of the most atmospheric and moody introductions to a story I have ever read! It drew me in immediately and the world around me ceased to exist. Perfect in my opinion.
——
As a child, Esther was plagued with nightmares, and now these nightmares have returned to haunt her. Waking with fresh wounds after being chased by blood thirsty monsters, she soon realizes these nightmares may be more real than she thought. After meeting a mysterious hooded figure, Esther searches for answers about her involvement in a Hidden Realm and why she is destined to save it.
——
Let’s start with the world building. I really loved all of the ideas the author came up with here. I loved the differences between the human world and the Realm, especially the part about librarians being trained dragon fighters or wranglers because dragons hoard books. Lol. I also liked how some classic fairy tale characters were incorporated into it. I do find it important to be able to picture what the world looks like to a degree, and I did have trouble doing that at times, getting confused with some of the descriptions or locations and just not being able to visualize these sometimes.
I really enjoyed the introduction we got to Esther and her being a librarian. What book nerd wouldn’t?! Lol. I definitely would have liked a bit more depth to her character tho. After the initial details I felt as a reader I just didn’t get to know her and couldn’t become attached to her as much as I would have liked to. I found her transition from Librarian to acceptance of being the lone savior of a realm to trained killer a little too....easy? I felt like there was a gap there that needed some sort of bridge to get from one to the other.
As far as the other characters go, I really enjoyed them. Except for Rumpelstiltskin that is. I even found myself crying at one point in the story 😭.
The book ends with a lot of unanswered questions and that just leaves me anticipating the next book. Overall I did enjoy this one and think it was a solid debut! Definitely a dark fantasy. I’m really look forward to seeing where the author takes it next!
This one gets ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 from me!
⚡️ 𝘈 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘴, 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘭, 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘴, 𝘓𝘦𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘓𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘣𝘺 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳 𝘛.𝘙. 𝘚𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘧.
This prologue is one of the most atmospheric and moody introductions to a story I have ever read! It drew me in immediately and the world around me ceased to exist. Perfect in my opinion.
——
As a child, Esther was plagued with nightmares, and now these nightmares have returned to haunt her. Waking with fresh wounds after being chased by blood thirsty monsters, she soon realizes these nightmares may be more real than she thought. After meeting a mysterious hooded figure, Esther searches for answers about her involvement in a Hidden Realm and why she is destined to save it.
——
Let’s start with the world building. I really loved all of the ideas the author came up with here. I loved the differences between the human world and the Realm, especially the part about librarians being trained dragon fighters or wranglers because dragons hoard books. Lol. I also liked how some classic fairy tale characters were incorporated into it. I do find it important to be able to picture what the world looks like to a degree, and I did have trouble doing that at times, getting confused with some of the descriptions or locations and just not being able to visualize these sometimes.
I really enjoyed the introduction we got to Esther and her being a librarian. What book nerd wouldn’t?! Lol. I definitely would have liked a bit more depth to her character tho. After the initial details I felt as a reader I just didn’t get to know her and couldn’t become attached to her as much as I would have liked to. I found her transition from Librarian to acceptance of being the lone savior of a realm to trained killer a little too....easy? I felt like there was a gap there that needed some sort of bridge to get from one to the other.
As far as the other characters go, I really enjoyed them. Except for Rumpelstiltskin that is. I even found myself crying at one point in the story 😭.
The book ends with a lot of unanswered questions and that just leaves me anticipating the next book. Overall I did enjoy this one and think it was a solid debut! Definitely a dark fantasy. I’m really look forward to seeing where the author takes it next!
This one gets ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 from me!
October 9, 2020
Thank you so much to Literary Bound Tours for having me on the tour for Hidden Realm by T.R. Slauf! Pay attention my fairytale and dark fantasy loving friends because you don’t want to miss this one!
Esther is a resident of modern day Earth who finds herself literally torn between two realms. After performing a ritual to enter the Hidden Realm, which is a mashup of dark fairy tales based off of the brothers Grimm, she must unite the kingdom against the elusive enemy called the Crimson Shadow.
I really enjoyed the story itself, and reading all the gritty details found in a proper dark fantasy. Evil wolves, humans talking to animals, the stereotypical man of all men character, bandits, magic, and even dragons that hoard books, Hidden Realm has something for every lover of stories. The second half and especially last quarter also moved significantly faster than the first half, which was a nice treat that made the book hard to put down.
I was not such a fan of the main character, Esther, mainly due to a lack of back story that enabled her to step into her role of heroine. She was a timid librarian that managed to step into a world of danger and then hardly ever looked back. She never even mentioned her father again after he passed away, and leta the hook way too easily for being evasive. I really love the side characters and banter though. Davon was the perfect innocent boy chatting with birds, I also loved Winston, and so much of the dialogue in the book was just perfect.
Not sure they would have had the word fuck in fairytale land though. On that note I think Slauf did a great job with atmosphere and mood setting between characters. I would have liked a little more description of the physical settings.
All in all this book had me rapt, and I fully recommend it but not for the easily offended or faint of heart. Content includes everything from bandits laughing about female and male rape to a house pet being sacrificed, to swearing, gore, parental death, pairings of many gender combinations in both hook ups and marriage, talk of sibling loss, STDs, and others. As I said – a dark fantasy gem.
Esther is a resident of modern day Earth who finds herself literally torn between two realms. After performing a ritual to enter the Hidden Realm, which is a mashup of dark fairy tales based off of the brothers Grimm, she must unite the kingdom against the elusive enemy called the Crimson Shadow.
I really enjoyed the story itself, and reading all the gritty details found in a proper dark fantasy. Evil wolves, humans talking to animals, the stereotypical man of all men character, bandits, magic, and even dragons that hoard books, Hidden Realm has something for every lover of stories. The second half and especially last quarter also moved significantly faster than the first half, which was a nice treat that made the book hard to put down.
I was not such a fan of the main character, Esther, mainly due to a lack of back story that enabled her to step into her role of heroine. She was a timid librarian that managed to step into a world of danger and then hardly ever looked back. She never even mentioned her father again after he passed away, and leta the hook way too easily for being evasive. I really love the side characters and banter though. Davon was the perfect innocent boy chatting with birds, I also loved Winston, and so much of the dialogue in the book was just perfect.
Not sure they would have had the word fuck in fairytale land though. On that note I think Slauf did a great job with atmosphere and mood setting between characters. I would have liked a little more description of the physical settings.
All in all this book had me rapt, and I fully recommend it but not for the easily offended or faint of heart. Content includes everything from bandits laughing about female and male rape to a house pet being sacrificed, to swearing, gore, parental death, pairings of many gender combinations in both hook ups and marriage, talk of sibling loss, STDs, and others. As I said – a dark fantasy gem.
December 9, 2020
Esther never wanted to believe she had an important role in a cosmic plan of anything. She never thought highly of herself, not once did she want to be someone important or special, because that brought attention. Esther was content to live out her life alone; quiet, and unnoticed by anyone.
This dark fantasy was such a pleasant surprise! I loved the main character Esther and her guide, Oisin. They have fun banter and I'm super curious to see what happens with their relationship in book two. I thought the world was really interesting and full of fun surprises. When I started the book, I had no idea that the fantasy world contained fairytales queens as various monarchs. I loved the spin that Slauf put on the various queens and thought the different spins still "fit" the princess characters we know from fairytales. I don't want to go into too much detail on these "spins" because of spoilers, but I think fantasy fans will love them! I also enjoyed the horror aspect of this book. The world is full of dark, ugly horrors...like really creepy, dark things. But it wasn't scary enough that I couldn't handle it. I avoid scary movies and usually avoid scary books, so I think this is a book even "chickens" like me will enjoy. Like I said, it's definitely 100% dark fantasy, but I think it's a story that all fantasy lovers will enjoy.
It does end on an intense cliffhanger, so you're definitely not left with resolution. But it just makes me even more excited for book two!
Thanks so much to the author for sending me the book for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
February 15, 2022
Actual rating 3.5!
One of the reasons why I was so drawn to this book because it reminded me very much of a Darren Shan book, just from the cover and synopsis alone! So I'm super glad the author reached out to me. All my thoughts are my own.
I loved the monster and the grim fairytale aspect. I thought Esther was such a unique and strong character and really enjoyed her development. She is discovering who she is, who she can trust, and what destiny awaits her. This book is a perfect mixture of horror and fantasy!
This book does end on a cliff hanger, so be sure you have the next book ready to go!
One of the reasons why I was so drawn to this book because it reminded me very much of a Darren Shan book, just from the cover and synopsis alone! So I'm super glad the author reached out to me. All my thoughts are my own.
I loved the monster and the grim fairytale aspect. I thought Esther was such a unique and strong character and really enjoyed her development. She is discovering who she is, who she can trust, and what destiny awaits her. This book is a perfect mixture of horror and fantasy!
This book does end on a cliff hanger, so be sure you have the next book ready to go!
June 20, 2022
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
***
First of, I want you to know there are several triggers in this book. Something happened very early on that I found quite upsetting. Animal lovers beware.
Other trigger warnings: Talk of rape and sodomy, sexual abuse, rape, harm to children, strong language, murder
It's very violent. I don't mind violence in novels... I'm primarily a horror and thriller reader. But, much of this violence seemed sort of without purpose or like that purpose wasn't fully formed.
I wish knew about some of this beforehand and figured others may want to know. Though, some of these things may not bother you.
***
The book starts slow. So, it took me a few days to get through the beginning chapters. After that, the pace picks up significantly. At it's heart, the book is a play on Grimm's Fairytales, the real ones. So, it's a dark book.
Esther, the protagonist, goes through a sort of coming into herself process--I didn't find her a particularly likable character. She's a bit entitled. Though, I did appreciate her tenacity in battle. I enjoyed some of the ensemble a bit more, namely Oisin and Windsor and the dynamic between the two.
I enjoyed the villain much more than the protagonist. Little Red's character and storyline made sense. It was clear how she turned into a monster and her motivations seemed realistic.
I'm pretty torn on this one. It's predictable to a point because it's pulling from material we're familiar with. So, that's not really a negative in my mind. I think there's some solid action in the book. The violence, though, was a bit much.
***
Small potatoes stuff:
I thought some of the language used by the Huntsmen felt a bit too modern for people in their less than modern society. Dropping f bombs and some of the other swearing just sort of seemed out of place.
Oisin says "lass" far too much, sometimes three or four times right in a row.
There were a few typos, but nothing really took away from my understanding. Missing letters, tense errors.
***
First of, I want you to know there are several triggers in this book. Something happened very early on that I found quite upsetting. Animal lovers beware.
Other trigger warnings: Talk of rape and sodomy, sexual abuse, rape, harm to children, strong language, murder
It's very violent. I don't mind violence in novels... I'm primarily a horror and thriller reader. But, much of this violence seemed sort of without purpose or like that purpose wasn't fully formed.
I wish knew about some of this beforehand and figured others may want to know. Though, some of these things may not bother you.
***
The book starts slow. So, it took me a few days to get through the beginning chapters. After that, the pace picks up significantly. At it's heart, the book is a play on Grimm's Fairytales, the real ones. So, it's a dark book.
Esther, the protagonist, goes through a sort of coming into herself process--I didn't find her a particularly likable character. She's a bit entitled. Though, I did appreciate her tenacity in battle. I enjoyed some of the ensemble a bit more, namely Oisin and Windsor and the dynamic between the two.
I enjoyed the villain much more than the protagonist. Little Red's character and storyline made sense. It was clear how she turned into a monster and her motivations seemed realistic.
I'm pretty torn on this one. It's predictable to a point because it's pulling from material we're familiar with. So, that's not really a negative in my mind. I think there's some solid action in the book. The violence, though, was a bit much.
***
Small potatoes stuff:
I thought some of the language used by the Huntsmen felt a bit too modern for people in their less than modern society. Dropping f bombs and some of the other swearing just sort of seemed out of place.
Oisin says "lass" far too much, sometimes three or four times right in a row.
There were a few typos, but nothing really took away from my understanding. Missing letters, tense errors.
October 13, 2021
Hidden Realm by T.R. Slauf is a dark (emphasis on ‘dark’) fantasy novel. It is quite ambituous and very intriguing. The plot line is engaging and unique, which made this a good read for me.
The world building is the best part. The other Realm where main character, Esther, must is really well written. It was easy to visualize where we were.
This novel I’d dark and gritty, with some themes that may be difficult for some to read. It is a quick paced read with interesting characters.
There were some things left unresolved, but I’d imagine that was done purposefully since this is only book one.
Overall, if dark fantasy is your jam, I think Hidden Realm is a solid read.
Thank you to Love Books Tours for the free review copy and opportunity to honestly review this book on the tour. All opinions are my own and unbiased.
The world building is the best part. The other Realm where main character, Esther, must is really well written. It was easy to visualize where we were.
This novel I’d dark and gritty, with some themes that may be difficult for some to read. It is a quick paced read with interesting characters.
There were some things left unresolved, but I’d imagine that was done purposefully since this is only book one.
Overall, if dark fantasy is your jam, I think Hidden Realm is a solid read.
Thank you to Love Books Tours for the free review copy and opportunity to honestly review this book on the tour. All opinions are my own and unbiased.
October 20, 2020
**I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for an honest review**
“I meet plenty of men. I just don’t pursue any of them because I’m simply not interested in dating.” “You mean none of them match the overly masculine characters from those misogynistic books you love.”
Legends of Lightning is an adult dark fantasy that follows Esther’s adventure to a realm that she thought only existed in her dreams, a journey that also led her to self-discovery.
It took me a few chapters to realize that this is a retelling of Grimm’s fairytales hence the beginning was partly confusing. But once I realized it, the story made more sense and it became easier to read, however, that made it also predictable.
Major scenes have been presented all throughout the story but there was no emotional impact. Revelation of being adopted, parent’s death and being raped are some of the scenes that could have been heavy and emotional but it wasn’t, at least not in this story.
I became invested with the secondary characters and the villains. And as much as I wanted to love the main character because there was a great potential for character development, it wasn’t delivered. For someone who came from the modern world, Esther trust strangers too easily and she is the type who acts first and think later. It almost felt that she was digging her own grave.
It is always a challenge to create a solid plot when the story is based from a fairytale and that challenge is apparent in this book. There was a huge disconnect in every scene.
Although, the ending made me curious on what’s going to happen next, I don’t think this series is for me.
“I meet plenty of men. I just don’t pursue any of them because I’m simply not interested in dating.” “You mean none of them match the overly masculine characters from those misogynistic books you love.”
Legends of Lightning is an adult dark fantasy that follows Esther’s adventure to a realm that she thought only existed in her dreams, a journey that also led her to self-discovery.
It took me a few chapters to realize that this is a retelling of Grimm’s fairytales hence the beginning was partly confusing. But once I realized it, the story made more sense and it became easier to read, however, that made it also predictable.
Major scenes have been presented all throughout the story but there was no emotional impact. Revelation of being adopted, parent’s death and being raped are some of the scenes that could have been heavy and emotional but it wasn’t, at least not in this story.
I became invested with the secondary characters and the villains. And as much as I wanted to love the main character because there was a great potential for character development, it wasn’t delivered. For someone who came from the modern world, Esther trust strangers too easily and she is the type who acts first and think later. It almost felt that she was digging her own grave.
It is always a challenge to create a solid plot when the story is based from a fairytale and that challenge is apparent in this book. There was a huge disconnect in every scene.
Although, the ending made me curious on what’s going to happen next, I don’t think this series is for me.
October 26, 2021
As many of you know I love a good fairy tale, give me a brother Grimm retelling and I’m all in. Add that this is an adult book. Yeap, 18 years plus and I’m intrigued.
Slauf’s world being in the other realm is on point. With descriptions that could have actually come out of nightmares, the reader has escaped into a place you don’t want to go. The characters are well written if not a little two dimensional at times. I still loved them as life’s not always so well explained. Coupled with an overprotective character and like any mystery I have no idea what drives them.
Slauf has managed to recreate fairy tales while producing an original story and keeping the reader turning the pages to the bitter end.
Can’t wait to read the next book as this was a hidden gem.
A huge thank you to @T.R.Slauf and
@lovebookstours for letting me to be part of this book tour and for my honest review.
#Ad #Gifted #nightmares #otherrealms #protection #fairytaleretelling #adultfairytales #grimmretelling #bookish #bookstagram
October 23, 2021
One thing I do love is discovering new authors to 'stalk' and T.R Slauf is a debut author whose first book has me sat up in expectation now!
A fantasy story that's dark, captivating and anyone who loves fairytales will enjoy this book. Esther is our main character, who finds herself torn between two realms. She performs a ritual to get into the 'hidden realm', which is a place that is based the Brothers Grimm fairytales but all mixed up.
The world building of the hidden realm is excellent. It was really easy to imagine I was there with Esther. The themes in the plotline may cause some readers to struggle with this book, as I said...a dark story.
I enjoyed the plotline as I found it quite unique compared to other books I have been reading and it is a perfectly paced story.
I found I was engrossed in this 'other world' and got through this book in no time. Now I am looking forward to Book 2!
A fantasy story that's dark, captivating and anyone who loves fairytales will enjoy this book. Esther is our main character, who finds herself torn between two realms. She performs a ritual to get into the 'hidden realm', which is a place that is based the Brothers Grimm fairytales but all mixed up.
The world building of the hidden realm is excellent. It was really easy to imagine I was there with Esther. The themes in the plotline may cause some readers to struggle with this book, as I said...a dark story.
I enjoyed the plotline as I found it quite unique compared to other books I have been reading and it is a perfectly paced story.
I found I was engrossed in this 'other world' and got through this book in no time. Now I am looking forward to Book 2!
May 25, 2022
~About
Esther, a young librarian is asked to appraise an old German translation of a Grimm fairytale book, however, there’s something odd about it that she just can’t put her finger on. On top of this, she starts to have dreams of a Huntsman named Oisin who says she is the next Realm Walker.
Esther soon finds out that she was found as a child, covered in blood, with amnesia. Now, a great evil stalks her and she is the only one who can put a stop to it. She is the Realm Walker of an ancient prophecy and must travel to another dark realm to help fight a mysterious war.
As wolves attack villages in growing numbers, Esther has yet to truly understand the full reality of her true nature and the part she must play in said war.
~Characters
Of all the characters involved, this review will focus on the following three: Esther, Oisin, and The Crimson Shadow.
Esther Wan works at her local library and loves delving into books to briefly become someone other than herself. She seeks to escape from her everyday world, to ‘find her true place in the world.’ Esther is dedicated to her work, however, strange nightmares have been plaguing her as of late, growing ever more surreal. Before long she finds herself in another realm as the next realm walker, a position of enormous responsibility. Over the course of the story, Esther demonstrates great courage and determination while fighting to save citizens of this other realm from an army of insidious creatures. Esther is essentially thrown into the deep end, knowing nothing of her role as realm walker. Gradually, we see her transform, from a timid librarian, to a fierce and stubborn warrior who always does what she thinks is right, even if it’s extremely risky. I found myself admiring Esther’s character greatly due to the sheer amount of change she undergoes and how she puts the safety of others before her own.
Oisin, a huntsman, proves to be strong yet kind and acts as Esthers protector right from the start. At first, he appeared to be quite mysterious, hiding his face with his hood at all times. It is only later that we learn he has a heavily scarred face which he dislikes showing others and a tragic backstory to accompany it. He shuts people out due to past trauma in his life, something which had me empathising greatly with his character. As Esther’s sworn protector, he was always loyal to her, trying to keep her safe, even if she took big risks in order to try and save others. Overall, Oisin proved to be a steadfast friend and a courageous man, who would do anything to protect his beloved realm walker.
Finally, we come to The Crimson Shadow, here nicknamed because of the blood red cloak they wear and how they move stealthily like a shadow in the night. When first introduced in the story, we see them only as a mysterious red-caped figure who commands misshapen creatures known only as the wolves. These terrible monsters do their bidding, savaging citizens all across the realms. However, as time goes on, we become privy to the backstory of this heinous villain, learning about their difficult and often traumatic life, which they have fought hard to overcome. Reading about their dire childhood, I came to both fear and admire them for the sheer strength of will they have cultivated. Although you’re often supposed to root against the villain of a story, I actually ended up empathizing with their plight and found it hard to dislike them overall, finally coming to understand their rationale for committing such terrible acts.
~Positive Aspects
There were many positives when it came to reading Hidden Realm, many of which are listed below.
-The world building was done masterfully, with kingdoms centred around fairytale figures known to us in the modern day.
-The author skilfully paints the first setting we see- as dark, tense, and dangerous, focusing on the minute details so the reader can feel truly immersed in the setting, and get a good sense of how the character feels about being there.
-I found it adorable that Esther talked to her cat, having proper, full on amusing conversations with it.
-The author sprinkles an infectious type of humour into the pages of the story, which made me light up with laughter at various points.
-The scenes play out naturally, with much dialogue and less description, mimicking real life -scenarios. This made for easy reading and comprehension of events.
-Hearing about The Crimson Shadow’s traumatic past had me empathizing with them on a deep level. I simply couldn’t see them as a true villain after being privy to such events.
-The characters were fascinating in themselves. They were a unique twist on characters such as Red Riding Hood, The Beast, Princess Aurora, etc. Learning about their re-created histories, which were often full of trauma was interesting as they showed us how they came to be who they are today, twisted versions of the fairytale characters we know and love.
~Memorable Quotes
There were several quotes which caught my attention while reading Hidden Realm, the four below being the most prominent.
1) ‘An army of desperate souls given shallow promises can be formidable.’
2) ‘It was you who imprisoned yourself by not testing the boundaries given to you by another.’
3) ‘None of them is innocent. The ones who watch the horrors happen and say nothing are the real monsters; they must be held accountable for their complacence.’
4) ‘Not everyone has the courage to stand up; they don’t think they hold any power. They fear the retribution of the corrupt.’
~Overview
Overall, Hidden Realm proved to be a dark and gripping fantasy tale which follows the journey of Esther, the newest realm walker as she tries to find her bearings in a nightmare realm.
Core themes included; identity, power, our pasts (and how they have shaped us), and war.
My Rating: 5 stars.
Recommended to: lovers of dark fairytale novels.
June 28, 2021
Hidden Realm (Legends of Lightning Book 1) by T.R. Slauf 📚
Check out the review on my blog-https://inscribedinklings.wordpress.c...
Hidden Realm was an epic dark fantasy book which had Grimm's fairy tales adapted into the story. I just thought the book was a simple fantasy book, but it was a very complex retelling/ adaptation of not one fairy tale but several of them. I loved the use of strong language and swear words in this setting because people generally perceive fairy tales to be all light and sweet. This book was the complete opposite of that.
The writing style was articulate and chatty. The tone of the book was dark and intense. The narration was in third person. The plot was crazy, exciting and fast paced. The characters were all really unique and different. The only person who fell a little flat was Esther, the MC. She felt a bit one dimensional, all bravery and courage. But it didn't affect the overall story or feel of the book.
The story was about Esther who was a librarian on Earth. She was plagued by dreams which felt very real. Then she realised that she traveled to a different realm in her dreams and she was the Realm Walker. She decided to go to the other realm for the greater good and to save the world. There she met her Guide, Oisin whose purpose was to keep her safe. She was the saviour they were all waiting for.
The realm walker was foretold to defeat the crimson shadow and the monster's it has spawned and free the realms of its wickedness. But Esther was just a normal girl and she had no knowledge of any of this. How does she cope to this new world? I love the side characters in the book, Windsor and Genny were my favourite. The book ended in a cliffhanger and I need to know what happens next! Can't wait to read the next installment of the book.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves Dark Fantasy.
Rating- ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Afreen
Check out the review on my blog-https://inscribedinklings.wordpress.c...
Hidden Realm was an epic dark fantasy book which had Grimm's fairy tales adapted into the story. I just thought the book was a simple fantasy book, but it was a very complex retelling/ adaptation of not one fairy tale but several of them. I loved the use of strong language and swear words in this setting because people generally perceive fairy tales to be all light and sweet. This book was the complete opposite of that.
The writing style was articulate and chatty. The tone of the book was dark and intense. The narration was in third person. The plot was crazy, exciting and fast paced. The characters were all really unique and different. The only person who fell a little flat was Esther, the MC. She felt a bit one dimensional, all bravery and courage. But it didn't affect the overall story or feel of the book.
The story was about Esther who was a librarian on Earth. She was plagued by dreams which felt very real. Then she realised that she traveled to a different realm in her dreams and she was the Realm Walker. She decided to go to the other realm for the greater good and to save the world. There she met her Guide, Oisin whose purpose was to keep her safe. She was the saviour they were all waiting for.
The realm walker was foretold to defeat the crimson shadow and the monster's it has spawned and free the realms of its wickedness. But Esther was just a normal girl and she had no knowledge of any of this. How does she cope to this new world? I love the side characters in the book, Windsor and Genny were my favourite. The book ended in a cliffhanger and I need to know what happens next! Can't wait to read the next installment of the book.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves Dark Fantasy.
Rating- ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Afreen
October 2, 2020
4 stars
First off I want to note that this is in fact a dark fairytale/fantasy novel that has themes that are similar to the dark Brothers Grimm tales it is inspired by. With that being said, I was pleasantly surprised to see the way the author incorporated those fairytale aspects into the novel. I thought it very clever and loved the originality of it. Maybe it’s because I’m drawn to darker, grittier tales but I found the way the author integrated some of my favorite childhood fairytale aspects to be quite appealing.
Fairytale elements aside, I thought the plot of the novel to be really fascinating and quite magical. The fantasy world that the author has created is uniquely atmospheric and one that I couldn’t stop thinking about long after setting the book down. The author’s poignant style of writing really allows for the world to come alive in the reader’s imagination and creates an atmosphere that is brilliant and haunting. The story develops at a fast pace that makes for a page turning, mind blowing, book that had me highly invested in where it would lead.
As for the characters, I found I was a lot more intrigued by the secondary characters and the villain of the novel. Esther, the main character, unfortunately fell a bit flat for me. I felt like I couldn’t really connect with her and found her to be a bit emotionless almost. Considering the fact that this world and who she is, is sort of sprung on her, I expected more of a reaction from her throughout many of the events of the novel but she seemed to take everything at ease which felt a bit unbelievable. That aside, I did like how strong and fierce she was despite everything that happened.
Overall, I absolutely loved the storytelling method, the world building, and the darker fairytale components that the author incorporated. I’m very riveted by the Legends of Lighting world and can’t wait to see where the author takes the story, especially since ‘Hidden Realm’ ended on a daunting cliffhanger and I have no patience.
First off I want to note that this is in fact a dark fairytale/fantasy novel that has themes that are similar to the dark Brothers Grimm tales it is inspired by. With that being said, I was pleasantly surprised to see the way the author incorporated those fairytale aspects into the novel. I thought it very clever and loved the originality of it. Maybe it’s because I’m drawn to darker, grittier tales but I found the way the author integrated some of my favorite childhood fairytale aspects to be quite appealing.
Fairytale elements aside, I thought the plot of the novel to be really fascinating and quite magical. The fantasy world that the author has created is uniquely atmospheric and one that I couldn’t stop thinking about long after setting the book down. The author’s poignant style of writing really allows for the world to come alive in the reader’s imagination and creates an atmosphere that is brilliant and haunting. The story develops at a fast pace that makes for a page turning, mind blowing, book that had me highly invested in where it would lead.
As for the characters, I found I was a lot more intrigued by the secondary characters and the villain of the novel. Esther, the main character, unfortunately fell a bit flat for me. I felt like I couldn’t really connect with her and found her to be a bit emotionless almost. Considering the fact that this world and who she is, is sort of sprung on her, I expected more of a reaction from her throughout many of the events of the novel but she seemed to take everything at ease which felt a bit unbelievable. That aside, I did like how strong and fierce she was despite everything that happened.
Overall, I absolutely loved the storytelling method, the world building, and the darker fairytale components that the author incorporated. I’m very riveted by the Legends of Lighting world and can’t wait to see where the author takes the story, especially since ‘Hidden Realm’ ended on a daunting cliffhanger and I have no patience.
October 15, 2021
Hidden Realm is Book 1 of the Legends of the Lightning series and T.R. Slauf’s debut. This is a fast-paced, dark, gritty, fantasy with interesting characters. The novel is a mixed adaptation of some of the Brothers Grimm stories and Beauty and the Beast. This fairy tale aspect made this a much more interesting read.
The story revolves around Ester, a librarian who has nightmares where she is chased through the woods by wolves. It seems anything physical, like a wound, Esther experiences in her nightmares actually begins to appear on her body. This novel is Esther’s journey in this world of nightmares and why she is the one to save it from evil.
Overall, I really liked this book. It was enjoyable and a real page-turner. I loved spins on classic fairy tales and fairy tale characters. The world-building was amazing, and the plot of this novel was unique. This novel was also very well written.
I wasn’t the biggest fan of Esther’s character as I felt she lacked a little depth and there were some minor inconsistencies in the book.
This book ends on an intriguing cliffhanger and leaves me with a lot of questions I hope will get resolved in the next book. This is a fabulous debut and I can’t wait to dive into the next book!
Rating: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The story revolves around Ester, a librarian who has nightmares where she is chased through the woods by wolves. It seems anything physical, like a wound, Esther experiences in her nightmares actually begins to appear on her body. This novel is Esther’s journey in this world of nightmares and why she is the one to save it from evil.
Overall, I really liked this book. It was enjoyable and a real page-turner. I loved spins on classic fairy tales and fairy tale characters. The world-building was amazing, and the plot of this novel was unique. This novel was also very well written.
I wasn’t the biggest fan of Esther’s character as I felt she lacked a little depth and there were some minor inconsistencies in the book.
This book ends on an intriguing cliffhanger and leaves me with a lot of questions I hope will get resolved in the next book. This is a fabulous debut and I can’t wait to dive into the next book!
Rating: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
October 11, 2021
I love a return to the original dark roots of fairy tales! I absolutely love the dark world Slauf has created in Legends of Lightning, and I think they’ve provided an interesting take on classic stories. I really love the interpretation of Snow White, Sleeping Beauty and Little Red Riding Hood. The fight scenes feel bloody and epic, and there’s a general gloom to the writing that really sells the setting. It’s also very easy to read, I found myself saying “one more chapter” a handful of times. Overall, I enjoyed this!
.
However, this does feel like a first novel. The dialogue can feel a little boxy and awkward. It feels like the author holds your hand through certain moments while skipping over other things that seem important. There are a lot of sexual elements that don’t really seem to fit (they feel like just a way to add shock factor and dark themes). Esther seems a little wishy-washy in the way she approaches things, and everything works out for her way to easily… But with all that being said, there’s a lot of potential in Slauf’s world-building and creativity! So, I’m eager to see where the story goes from here!
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However, this does feel like a first novel. The dialogue can feel a little boxy and awkward. It feels like the author holds your hand through certain moments while skipping over other things that seem important. There are a lot of sexual elements that don’t really seem to fit (they feel like just a way to add shock factor and dark themes). Esther seems a little wishy-washy in the way she approaches things, and everything works out for her way to easily… But with all that being said, there’s a lot of potential in Slauf’s world-building and creativity! So, I’m eager to see where the story goes from here!
October 15, 2021
“The next Realm Walker will bring with them a storm. Lightning must fight the Crimson Shadow, or the lands will be cast into eternal darkness.”
Esther is a librarian in our realm but recently she is having nightmares of Wolves chasing her, until one day she is hurt by wolves to wake up and realise it was all true. But how and why she had no answers. She has to save a Hidden Realm she has no idea of.
Esther's journey is terrifying, filled with horror and so much cruelty, it is disturbing. The world author is created is so dark and creepy. Halfway through the book I realised it is adaptation to classic fairytales. This is adventurous, action packed and I have many questions.
For a debut novel this was well written with amazing imagination. It was fast paced with uniqueness in retelling. I wish Esther was a bit more developed, at times I was frustrated with her and how with all that was happening there wasn't any use of things she was there for but at last that changed which is how the author leaves us with a cliffhanger. I can't wait to start with the next.
Overall a good read and pick this up if you like dark fantasy. Thank you @lovebooktours for this #gifted copy.
Esther is a librarian in our realm but recently she is having nightmares of Wolves chasing her, until one day she is hurt by wolves to wake up and realise it was all true. But how and why she had no answers. She has to save a Hidden Realm she has no idea of.
Esther's journey is terrifying, filled with horror and so much cruelty, it is disturbing. The world author is created is so dark and creepy. Halfway through the book I realised it is adaptation to classic fairytales. This is adventurous, action packed and I have many questions.
For a debut novel this was well written with amazing imagination. It was fast paced with uniqueness in retelling. I wish Esther was a bit more developed, at times I was frustrated with her and how with all that was happening there wasn't any use of things she was there for but at last that changed which is how the author leaves us with a cliffhanger. I can't wait to start with the next.
Overall a good read and pick this up if you like dark fantasy. Thank you @lovebooktours for this #gifted copy.
September 4, 2020
I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves dark fantasy. I always knew The Brothers Grimm's original fairy tales were seriously twisted. But, this fantasy has me rethinking my entire childhood story life. The story unfolds within your eyes as you read each and every page. And, turn the pages you will as you try too take the entire story in. Our heroine is perfectly imperfect, whether she is in a library or the haunted woods. Esther shows complete courage throughout the entire story. As does each and every other character. The author does a great job of ensuring each character has a place within the story. Which only adds to the authenticity of what you are reading. I want to thank Voracious Readers Only and the author for my free copy of this book. I will be following this author closely as I must read the second installment.
February 20, 2022
First off, huge thanks to the author for gifting me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! All thoughts and opinions below are entirely my own.
As a devout fan of both horror and urban fantasy, my heart burns for this kind of mysterious, dark fantasy story. Naturally, I was instantly captivated by the Brothers Grimm vibes of this one. Definitely among the most unique fairytale retellings I’ve come across!!
I absolutely LOVE the premise: Esther, an unassuming librarian, steps into a nightmarish Hidden Realm and must take on supernatural creatures and other mystical foes as she traverses an unknown land led by a mysterious guide with the goal of uniting kingdoms. Admittedly, I am hoping for some deeper, more dynamic character development for Esther in book two, but I feel like this first installment does an excellent job setting the stage for an epic sequel!
As a devout fan of both horror and urban fantasy, my heart burns for this kind of mysterious, dark fantasy story. Naturally, I was instantly captivated by the Brothers Grimm vibes of this one. Definitely among the most unique fairytale retellings I’ve come across!!
I absolutely LOVE the premise: Esther, an unassuming librarian, steps into a nightmarish Hidden Realm and must take on supernatural creatures and other mystical foes as she traverses an unknown land led by a mysterious guide with the goal of uniting kingdoms. Admittedly, I am hoping for some deeper, more dynamic character development for Esther in book two, but I feel like this first installment does an excellent job setting the stage for an epic sequel!
June 8, 2022
Esther had vivid nightmares as a kid, but now they have returned Monsters chase her through a forest of dead trees while a mysterious hooded figure stalks her. When she wakes, she has wounds just like the ones from her dreams. Esther must figure out if she can trust this hooded guide while traveling to fix a broken kingdom.
I could not put this one down, I read it in a day. This is the first book in the Legends of Lightning series, and I am dying to know what is next. The characters were all so interesting and given personality that added to the story. You could relate to the main character, like when she talks to her cat. The world building of this book was detailed in such a way you feel like you are in the world. There was a mix of different fairytales which makes this book perfect for fantasy lovers.
I could not put this one down, I read it in a day. This is the first book in the Legends of Lightning series, and I am dying to know what is next. The characters were all so interesting and given personality that added to the story. You could relate to the main character, like when she talks to her cat. The world building of this book was detailed in such a way you feel like you are in the world. There was a mix of different fairytales which makes this book perfect for fantasy lovers.
June 30, 2022
Legends of Lightning: Hidden Realm is a mash up of sorts with multiple fairytales coinciding in one book. Let me be clear: very dark fairy tales. I struggled at times moving through different parts of Oisin and Esther's adventure to save the world from the Crimson Shadow but overall I liked the inclusion of so many characters from the world of the brother's Grimm. I will likely read the next book 📖 [Redemption] to see what transpires between the Realm Walker and her guide, Oisin, but frankly am less interested in the outcome of the war brewing between the Red Witch, her wolves, and the rest of the fairytale kindgoms.
3.5⭐/5
⚠️This book comes with MULTIPLE trigger warnings including rape, animal killing, etc.⚠️
3.5⭐/5
⚠️This book comes with MULTIPLE trigger warnings including rape, animal killing, etc.⚠️
January 19, 2021
Innovative, Intense, & Inclusive
I was captivated by this book immediately, drawn in by the cover illustration and excited about the female protagonist. Right off the bat, I became enamored by Esther's character, as a seemingly timid and unassuming librarian becomes pulled in to a whole new world and grapples with her newfound identity. Aside from the adventure and fantasy, I was enthralled by Oisin and Esther's heartwarming and unlikely friendship. This novel is an imaginative take on classic stories, and, most importantly, includes a breadth of diverse, well-rounded characters that made me keep reading. I cannot wait to see what lies in store for Esther next!
I was captivated by this book immediately, drawn in by the cover illustration and excited about the female protagonist. Right off the bat, I became enamored by Esther's character, as a seemingly timid and unassuming librarian becomes pulled in to a whole new world and grapples with her newfound identity. Aside from the adventure and fantasy, I was enthralled by Oisin and Esther's heartwarming and unlikely friendship. This novel is an imaginative take on classic stories, and, most importantly, includes a breadth of diverse, well-rounded characters that made me keep reading. I cannot wait to see what lies in store for Esther next!
July 10, 2022
Rate: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
TW: Dark, Gore, Rape, Child trafficking, Death
A twist on the Grimm Brothers stories and it reminded me of the show called Once Upon A Time. I struggled reading the beginning. The writing was quite rough and did not flow nicely throughout, I had to reread some sections. Many events happened once, with different side stories not connecting to the main plot. The FMC at times annoyed me, she was too eager when it came to life-threatening situations. Yeah, there were times when she was a badass but she forgets she's in another world. I'll be honest, the last few chapters I skimmed through it, hoping to read about the war ... I don't think I'll be reading the next book, to find out what happens next.
I do love books with maps,
TW: Dark, Gore, Rape, Child trafficking, Death
A twist on the Grimm Brothers stories and it reminded me of the show called Once Upon A Time. I struggled reading the beginning. The writing was quite rough and did not flow nicely throughout, I had to reread some sections. Many events happened once, with different side stories not connecting to the main plot. The FMC at times annoyed me, she was too eager when it came to life-threatening situations. Yeah, there were times when she was a badass but she forgets she's in another world. I'll be honest, the last few chapters I skimmed through it, hoping to read about the war ... I don't think I'll be reading the next book, to find out what happens next.
I do love books with maps,
July 7, 2022
First of all thanks katieandbreypa and Booksirens for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this book! it was interesting, easy to read, and had me constantly on the edge of my seat. Can't wait for the next one to come out.
The main character shows amazing development. I really liked how she faces the truth of what is happening and how it takes her time to fully understand. I also enjoyed how she does talk about the need to train and progresses little by little instead of automatically being a good fighter. Her personality makes it easy to relate to what is happening and how the story moves. Esther really makes the story more interesting than it already is.
The male main character also has a lot to offer. As he moves away from the handsome stranger canon and has a strong personality. He es marked by trauma and has a backstory that makes me like him even more.
The story is also really interesting, showing a parallel world marked by the stories of the Grimm brothers. A land filled with monsters, magic, prophecies, and new stories for well-known classic characters. A book that I think can be a fun read for almost everyone.
I really enjoyed this book! it was interesting, easy to read, and had me constantly on the edge of my seat. Can't wait for the next one to come out.
The main character shows amazing development. I really liked how she faces the truth of what is happening and how it takes her time to fully understand. I also enjoyed how she does talk about the need to train and progresses little by little instead of automatically being a good fighter. Her personality makes it easy to relate to what is happening and how the story moves. Esther really makes the story more interesting than it already is.
The male main character also has a lot to offer. As he moves away from the handsome stranger canon and has a strong personality. He es marked by trauma and has a backstory that makes me like him even more.
The story is also really interesting, showing a parallel world marked by the stories of the Grimm brothers. A land filled with monsters, magic, prophecies, and new stories for well-known classic characters. A book that I think can be a fun read for almost everyone.
December 31, 2021
Delightfully dark storyline based on the Brothers Grimm Fairytales. While familiar, it is a completely new and adventurous well written magical fantasy tale that I enjoyed very much.
World building and character development are well done and I look forward to the next installment.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
World building and character development are well done and I look forward to the next installment.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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